Can opener



P 1933- I c. e. FAWKES 2,131,136

CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 15, 1936 Inventor Czar/e5 6;:

A ttbrneus Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES CAN OPENER Charles G. Fawkes, Denver, Colo.

. Application September 15, 1936, Serial No. 100,950

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers of the type adapted to ride along the rim of a can while cutting the top thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a can opener simplified in construction over those of the prior art to the end that they may be manufactured at a lower cost and placed on the market at a shorter price than that at which the conventional types are sold.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a can opener wherein the parts are so constructed as to permit the assembling thereof with ease and the assurance that they will not readily come apart.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a can opener wherein the cutting blade is provided with a mount constructed and supported in such a manner as to continuously 0 maintain the cutting blade in cutting position with the can top after the out has been started.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener wherein the handle portion is so constructed that it may be utilized as a cap re- 5 mover.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the opener.

Figure 2 is an inside elevational view of the device.

Figure 3 is an outside elevational view of the 35 opener.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the main plate.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cutting blade and its saddle.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like nu- 40 merals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents a substantially octagonshaped plate, one upper side portion of which is deformed to provide the laterally disposed guide lug 6.

The lower portion of the plate 5 is provided with the can side-engaging rib I, and just above this is the circular opening 8 in which the slotted disk 9 is disposed and free to rotate. The lug 6 and the rib 1 project laterally from the same side 50 of the plate 5 along with the bearing formation In which circumvents the opening H through with the saddle-supporting pin I2 is disposed.

The saddle, which is generally referred to by A, is of U-shape,-the same having the leg por- 5 tions I3-l4. Each of these leg portions is proequipped with the cutting blade or integral cut- 5 ting edge It.

The upper portion of the plate 5 is struck out to provide the ear I! with which engages one end of the wire spring 13. This spring I8 is convoluted on the pin l2 and has its opposite end dis- 10 posed against the bight portion of the saddle A. In this manner the blade-carrying saddle A is normally and yieldingly maintained in a position resting against the guide lug 6. In this position the blade It is in inoperative position.

By referring to Figure 1, it can be seen that numeral I9 denotes a handle stamped from preferably sheet steel, the same having the finger engageable wing portions 20, each of which can have an opening 2! therein so that the de- 20 vice can be supported on a nail or other supporting element.

A portion of the handle I 9 adjacent the plate 5 is provided with a pair of inwardly disposed slots 22-22 defining claw-like formations 23. These 5 formations can be employed as crown cap removers. By engaging one of these claw-like formations 23 under the edge portion of a cap and pressing the corresponding wing portion 20 against the top of the cap, the cap may be easily go removed.

The driving means for initially engaging the cutting blade 16 into the top of the can consistsof the gear wheel 24 through which the substantially wide shank 25 of the handle I9 extends, this gear 24 being provided with a slot for receiving this shank. The traction wheel .26, which is situated on the opposite side of the plate 5 from the gearwheel 24, is also provided with a slot for receiving the free end portion of the shank 25.

Preparatory to the assembling of the opener. the free end portion of this shank is bifurcated and in assembling the furcations are bent laterally by a suitable stamping machine so that the traction wheel 26 cannot become displaced from the shank. Thus, it can be seen that the gear 24 and the traction Wheel 26 operate coordinately.

In the operation of the device, it can be seen that by rotating the handle IS, the gear '24 riding against the tooth l5 will at first tilt the saddle A so'that the cutting edge [6 will bite into the top of the can. In order to get this action, the lug 6 must be resting upon the rim of the can with the cutting edge It overlying the top of the can in close proximity to the rim. In this position of parts, the rib I is bearing against the side of the can, while the traction wheel 26 is bearing against the under side of the can rim.

When the saddle is thus tilted, the cutting blade [6 will assume an inclined position with respect to the plane of the can top so that as the handle [9 is rotated, a continual pressure of the blade is exerted on the top of the can so that the wheel 2'6 is caused to firmly engage with the under side of the rim so that as this traction wheel 26 r0- tates, the entire opener is carried along the rim.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, itis to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A can opener comprising a plate having a lateral lug to ride on a can rim, a turnable handle connected with the plate, a toothed wheel fixed to said handle and disposed at the outer side of the plate, a toothed traction wheel fixed to the handle and disposed at the inner side of the plate, a saddle straddling and pivotally connected to the plate and having an outer portion adapted to cooperate with the first-named toothed wheel, and equipped on its inner portion with can cutting means, and spring means housed within the saddle and arranged to normally and yieldingly hold the saddle against said lateral lug.

CHARLES G. FAWKES. 

